Midnight for Charlie Bone (Children Of The Red King, Book 1) (7 page)

            “And then what happened?" Charlie asked bravely He could almost hear the click in Grandma Bone as she snapped out of her reverie. "He broke the rules, Charlie. That's what happened. Beware it doesn't happen to you." She was gone in a second and Charlie found that he was now wide awake. In half an hour he managed to memorize so many notes he could read a simple tune and even play it.

            Ever since he had been tricked into betraying himself Charlie had avoided looking at newspapers or magazines. He didn't want to hear voices. He didn't want to eavesdrop on private conversations or listen to people's secrets. Every time his mother opened a newspaper he would turn his head away But Maisie said his gift should be used, for fun if nothing else. Eventually.

            she persuaded Charlie to listen in on a photo of her favorite film stars: Gregory Morton and Lydia Smiley.

            The photo had been taken beside a swimming pool and at first Charlie could only hear a faint splashing sound. He was about to push the magazine away hoping that he'd lost his unwelcome talent, when a voice said, You'll have to lose weight, darling. You're bursting out of that bikini.

            It must have been the photographer's voice, because Gregory Morton swore horribly and said, You leave my girl alone, you great ***!!! I like 'em chubby, it's...

            Lydia Smiley swore even more than Gregory and said, That's it. I've had it with you guys. You can both ***!!!

            Charlie repeated what he'd heard to Maisie and his mother. They laughed so much that tears ran down their faces. Charlie didn't think it was that funny but Maisie's laugh was so infectious, he too began to giggle.

            "Oh, Charlie, do some more," begged Maisie. "Come on, how about this one?" She pushed the magazine back to Charlie, pointing at a picture of the prime minister and his family.

            Charlie had barely glanced at it when the door burst open and Grandma Bone marched in. She guessed, immediately what had been going on and, striding to the table, she swept up the magazine and thrust it under her arm.

            "How could you?" she yelled, glaring first at Maisie and then at Charlie's mother. "This boy is endowed," she jabbed Charlie's head with a long finger, "and you are encouraging him to abuse his gift."

            "I was only..." Charlie began.

            "I know what you were doing," Grandma Bone said coldly. “Sitting in the kitchen and having a good laugh is not the right attitude. You don't deserve your gift, you stupid boy but seeing as you've got it, you're now responsible for improving it. Improve, respect, foster your inheritance -don't waste it on trashy foolish affairs. Save it for important things."

            Charlie was about to say that prime ministers were important, but thought better of it. He only had two days and two hundred questions to go, and he didn't want to spoil his chances of a free weekend.

            "I don't see why Charlie shouldn't have a bit of fun now and then," said Maisie indignantly. “He's my grandson, too."

            "More's the pity,” snapped Grandma Bone. "Charlie, get back to work." Charlie scurried upstairs to his room, leaving Maisie and Grandma Bone shouting insults at each other.

            He was about to sit at his desk when he caught sight of Benjamin crossing the road. Charlie waved and opened his window.

            "What's going on?" called Benjamin. "I haven't seen you for days. I keep ringing your bell but no one will let me in."

            Charlie lifted the black file. "I've had five hundred questions to do," he told Benjamin. "Only two hundred to go now, and I get a free weekend. How's the you-know-what?"

            "Bad," said Benjamin. "It's still making a noise. One of your horrible aunts came around. She was pretending to be collecting for charity but I knew her. She was just like the other one, only older."

            "You didn't let her in?" asked Charlie anxiously. “No. Runner gave his killer growl and she left." "Good old Runner. I've got to get back to work now, Ben." Charlie gave a huge sigh. "See you on Friday when I've finished the questions."

            "OK." Benjamin gave a forlorn wave. "It's been a funny vacation. I haven't seen anyone. Think I'll take Runner to a movie."

            "Heart of a Dog is on at the multiplex," said Charlie. "He'd enjoy that." He closed the window and went back to his questions. But he found it almost impossible to concentrate. He kept thinking about the silver case. What was in it? And why were the Yewbeams so anxious to get it?

CHAPTER 7

HYPNOTIZED!

            Friday night Grandma Bone marked Charlie's last hundred questions. He'd checked them very carefully with his uncle and he was sure that all his answers were right. But Grandma Bone wore such a grim expression as she read Charlie's messy handwriting, his heart began to sink. It was very hot in his grandmother's room, and Charlie had to stand beside a heater while Grandma Bone sat at a small table in front of him. Her skinny legs stretched under the table toward the heater and Charlie couldn't help noticing that two bony toes had poked their way through the holes in her socks. He began to feel sick.

            At last his grandmother placed a small reluctant check beside the last line on the last page. She looked up. "Your writing is a disgrace," she said.

            "But did I get the answers right?"

            "You did." She sniffed and blew her nose. "Did you cheat?"

            "Cheat?" said Charlie. "N-no."

            "You don't seem very sure."

            "Of course I'm sure," said Charlie. "I mean, I was supposed to look them up, wasn't I? Or use my computer. And I did."

            "Here are ten more questions." She handed him a sheet of paper. "You may sit at my table and answer them here, where I can keep an eye on you. They're easy so you won't need to look them up."

            "But that wasn't the deal," wailed Charlie. "It's not fair."

            "Life isn't fair," said Grandma Bone. She waltzed over to her large, lumpy bed and lay back on the pillows. "Go on -the sooner you start, the sooner it will be over."

            Charlie silently ground his teeth. All the questions were mathematical problems. He gave a low groan and began. The first two problems took him ages and he had just begun to work out his third answer when he heard a snort from behind him.

            Grandma Bone had fallen asleep. Her mouth was wide open and a deep grunting noise was coming from it. Charlie tiptoed to the door, opened it very quietly and crept out into the passage. There was a tiny click as he closed the door, but Grandma Bone didn't wake up. Without bothering to put on a coat, Charlie sneaked out into the street and ran across to Benjamin's house. As he leaped up the steps, he could hear Runner Bean barking, and then three ear-splitting shrieks. Charlie rang the bell.

            He was aware of an eye on the other side of the spyhole, and then the door was opened.

            Charlie was amazed to see, not Benjamin, but Mr. Onimous standing before him.

            "The very one," said Mr. Onimous with a little hop. "We've been waiting for you. Come on, come on!"

            As Charlie stepped into the house, there was another furious bark.

            "Now then, Broad Bean," called Mr. Onimous. "Be polite. My flames don't like rude dogs." He took little leaps down the passage until he reached the cellar door. Behind the door Benjamin stood with his hand on Runner Bean's collar. Runner Bean kept lunging over the rickety steps; his growl had turned into an angry whine.

            Charlie soon saw why At the bottom of the steps, Mr. Onimous' three cats were circling the metal case. Aries suddenly gave an eerie snarl and jumped on the case. Leo, his tail lashing, attacked the lock with his claws, while Sagittarius bit one of the clasps.

            "Come on, my flames," called Mr. Onimous. "You can do better than this. Show us what you're made of"

            The cats looked up at him, their strange eyes glittering, and then they did something extraordinary They began to run around the silver case. Nose to tail, they formed a circle, and as they ran, the circle brightened until it became a fierce light. Faster ran the blazing creatures, and soon there were no cats to be seen, but only flames crackling around the metal, licking, burning, scorching. The smell of burning filled the cellar and Charlie and Benjamin began to cough. Runner Bean leaped away howling. It was no use -when the flames had died down and the cats became cats again, the case remained locked.

            "You'll have to find the right key Charlie," Mr. Onimous said. "Dr. Tolly knew what he was doing when he sealed that case. Perhaps he meant for it to stay locked forever."

            The three cats leaped up the fragile steps with ease. Charlie could feel the heat still crackling in their fur as they brushed against his legs.

            "They're a great comfort on a cold night," said Mr. Onimous. “Any chance of a coffee?"

            While he drank the rather strong coffee Benjamin had made, Mr. Onimous told Charlie that he was the one who had put the case in the cellar in the first place. "I came in while young Benjamin was over at your place," said Mr. Onimous. "It was his birthday I gather. Not much cake left was there?"

            "How did you get in?" Charlie asked suspiciously.

            "Benjamin's good mother let me in," said Mr. Onimous. "She'd just come home. Well, we'd seen this lady me and the flames, this very dark lady with red boots, collecting old clothes. We knew she'd be at the door of number twelve pretty soon, asking for old clothes. Ben's mom would've opened the little closet and the red-booted lady would've seen the case and Benjamin's mom, bless her, would've said, Take it, dear. It's garbage for all I know' And once she'd got it, well, that would be the end of it, wouldn't it?

            "But it was me and the flames Mrs. B let into the closet, on the pretext of a mouse-search, you understand, and while she was making me a nice cup of coffee, the flames suggested I tip that case into the cellar, see?"

            "How can cats suggest things?" asked Benjamin.

            "With their eyes, Ben," said Mr. Onimous, "and their mewing voices, and their swishing tails, and clever claws." He stood up and, wiping his small hairy hands on his coat, he said, "Charlie, I want to wish you luck.

            It's not easy changing schools at the best of times, and Bloor's Academy isn't an easy place. What you have to do will be difficult and dangerous, but remember, you've been chosen to rescue a life that's been stolen. What a grand way to begin a career!" He held out his pawlike hand. Charlie shook it.

            Benjamin asked, "Who chose him?"

            Before Mr. Onimous could reply Charlie said, "Has it got something to do with a red king?"

            "Everything," said Mr. Onimous.

            He wouldn't say another word, but hopped to the door and was away up the street. The two boys watched his small, fleet body disappearing around a bend, followed by the tail of burning-bright cats.

            "We never asked him how he knew about the case in the first place," said Benjamin.

            "There's a lot I keep forgetting to ask Mr. Onimous," said Charlie.

            "He's the quickest person I've ever met."

            Dr. Tolly's case was safe for now, but how long would it take theYewbeams to get it? It would have to be moved to a safer place, somewhere they'd never think of looking. Charlie had an idea. "Fidelio Gunn!" he said aloud.

            "What's that?" said Benjamin.

            “A boy,” said Charlie. "My music teacher. Come over on Sunday and you can meet him. Fidelio will help. I know he will."

            Benjamin looked doubtful. "We ought to find the key first." Charlie agreed. "We'll go first thing tomorrow" Grandma Bone had left the house to visit her sisters when Charlie got home. She didn't get back until very late, and so any unpleasantness about unanswered questions was avoided.

            Next morning, Maisie was the only one up when Charlie crept downstairs.

            "You go and enjoy yourself Charlie," she said, tucking a banana into his pocket. "Have as much fun as you can before it's too late." Charlie didn't think fun was the right word to describe what he would be doing. It felt too serious. But he didn't tell Maisie.

            Benjamin was waiting outside number twelve. He had left Runner Bean to guard the case. Miserable howls dogged them all the way up the street.

            "We won't be long, will we?" Benjamin asked guiltily Charlie wasn't sure. It was another cold, dark day Now and again flurries of hail and sleet would beat into their faces, and they had to walk with their heads bent to avoid the stinging slaps of ice. The crowds were thin and the road approaching the cathedral almost deserted. But, as they drew near to Ingledew's, two figures emerged from the veil of sleet, boys of about sixteen or seventeen. They stopped when they saw Charlie and Benjamin and moved slightly apart, filling the narrow pavement. As Charlie stepped into the street to avoid them, one of them said, "Charlie Bone?"

            Charlie shuddered. He'd heard that voice before. He looked up and recognized the boy who had glared out at him from the newspaper: Manfred Bloor.

            "Where are you going, Charlie Bone?" asked Manfred.

            "None of your business," said Charlie, sounding braver than he felt.

            "Oh, no?"The other boy gave a high-pitched snicker.

            "It is my business," said Manfred. "But I know already You're going to a bookshop called Ingledew's where you'll beg Miss Ingledew to look for a key a key to a certain case that doesn't belong to you, or to her." Charlie said nothing. He leaped around Manfred and jumped into the road, but Manfred's hand shot out and clamped itself on Charlie's arm. The other boy a weasely red-haired individual, grabbed hold of Benjamin.

            "I've got bad news for you, Charlie," Manfred said in a cold, toneless voice. "You won't be going to any bookshop. And you won't be getting a key! No one's going to open that case until it's handed over to me."

            "I don't know what you're talking about," said Charlie, trying to twist out of Manfred's grip.

            "We just want to buy a book," added Benjamin.

            You won't find any kids' books at Ingledew's," said the red-haired boy.

            "Let go of me!" shouted Charlie. "I can go where I want. You've no right to stop me." He brought up his free hand and gave Manfred a blow on the ear, but the taller boy seized both of Charlie's hands and, squeezing them tighter and tighter, forced him to the ground.

            "Look at me!" Manfred commanded.

            Charlie looked. He couldn't help himself.

            "Look into my eyes," came the sinister whisper. Manfred's eyes were like shining coals, black and fathomless. Charlie stared at them, repelled and fascinated. He felt himself sinking, deeper and deeper. And now he was drowning, for he couldn't get his breath. The world outside Manfred's coal-black eyes began to disappear, and Charlie found himself inside another world: inside a car to be precise. The car was traveling at great speed through a forest, and Charlie appeared to be driving. The coal-black eyes were beside him now, and the sinister voice repeated, "Look at me!"

            There was a sudden, violent jolt and Charlie was being dragged from the car. He knelt on the rim of a great pit while the car -a blue one- tumbled over the edge. The silence of the forest was broken by the scream of birds and then, far, far below, came a low, echoing splash.

            "Charlie! Charlie!"

            Charlie opened his eyes and found himself sitting on the ground with his back against a lamppost. Benjamin was peering into his face.

            "What happened to you?" Benjamin asked in a frightened voice.

            "I don't know,” said Charlie.

            “You kind of went to sleep," Benjamin told him. "I've been shaking you for ages."

            "Why did I go to sleep?" asked Charlie, feeling a bit foolish.

            "It was when you looked into that boy's face," said Benjamin. "I think he must have hypnotized you."

            "Who? When?" Charlie couldn't remember anything. "What am I doing here?"

            "Oh, Charlie!" Benjamin wrung his hands. "You've forgotten everything. We were going to see Miss Ingle-dew to ask for a key and then those two boys stepped in front of us, and one of them, the one with a pony-tail, made you look into his eyes, and you went all funny and sleepy."

            "Oh!" Charlie began to remember. He shivered. The air was painfully cold but the memory of Manfred's eyes was colder.

            "Shall we go to the bookshop now?" asked Benjamin.

            "I don't feel well," Charlie muttered, staggering to his feet. Benjamin had never heard his friend say such a thing. Charlie was always well. Benjamin was worried.

            As the two friends walked home through the icy streets, Charlie began to murmur about driving through a forest and a blue car tumbling into a quarry Benjamin thought Charlie was sleepwalking or had gone crazy Nothing Charlie said made any sense until he suddenly stopped and, grabbing Benjamin's arm, he said, "That's what happened to my father, Ben. He drove into a quarry."

            "Really?" said Benjamin. "I always wondered. In fact, sometimes I thought your father had just run away."

            "No," said Charlie gravely. “He was murdered." Benjamin didn't know what to say to this. Charlie's life had become, not only pretty complicated, but dangerous as well. They had reached Charlie's house by now, and Benjamin decided it would be best to let his friend have a rest. Besides, he could hear Runner Bean barking. He hoped he hadn't been barking for a whole hour.

            "Let's talk about the case tomorrow,” said Benjamin. "I'll come by when you have your music lesson."

            "Music lesson?" Charlie looked puzzled.

            "Fidelio Gunn," Benjamin said kindly.

            "Hmm.?The color had begun to come back into Charlie's pale face. "Oh, yes. See you tomorrow, Ben."

            Charlie dragged himself up the steps of number nine. It was quiet in the house. The smell of Maisie's cooking drifted into the hall, but instead of making Charlie feel hungry it just gave him a stomachache.

            He went upstairs and lay on his bed. This must be what people felt like after an operation, Charlie thought, as if they were not quite connected to the real world.